Sexual Abuse and Sex Trafficking Prevention

Guidance documents prepared by the California Department of Education (CDE), such as this, are provided as a reference, do not have the force or effect of law, and are not meant to suggest that the reader has obligations that go beyond those outlined in the cited statutes or legislative rules. Additionally, all reference links to outside resources are provided for the reader’s convenience only, the contents/accuracy of which are not otherwise verified or endorsed by the CDE.

Senate Bill 848: Pupil Safety: School Employee Misconduct - Child Abuse Prevention

On October 7, 2025, the Legislature enacted Senate Bill (SB) 848, which amended California Education Code (EC) 51950. EC 51950 requires the CDE to post resources and information regarding building awareness and understanding of appropriate boundaries in interactions and relationships. The bill also requires the CDE to develop guidance on the appropriate means of instructing students regarding the prevention of abuse, including sexual abuse and assault, of students, as specified, and would authorize school districts, county offices of education, charter schools, state special schools and diagnostic centers operated by the department, and private schools to provide annual instruction using the resources, information, and guidance developed and disseminated by the Superintendent, to all pupils, as provided.

EC 51950 Provides:

(a) Except as required by subdivision (d), a school district may provide abuse, including sexual abuse and assault, and human trafficking prevention education.

(b) For purposes of this section, “abuse, including sexual abuse and assault, and human trafficking prevention education” means instruction on the prevalence and nature of abuse, including sexual abuse and assault, and human trafficking, strategies to reduce risk, techniques to set healthy boundaries, and how to safely seek assistance.

(c) The Superintendent, in consultation with the Office of Child Abuse Prevention in the State Department of Social Services, local educational agencies, and public entity risk pool joint powers authorities that provide risk management services to California schools, shall do all of the following:

1. On or before July 1, 2026, develop, disseminate to all school districts, county offices of education, charter schools, state special schools and diagnostic centers operated by the department, and private schools, and post on the department’s internet website, resources and information regarding all of the following:
   
   (A) Building awareness and understanding of appropriate boundaries regarding adult-to-pupil interactions and relationships.
   (B) Building awareness and understanding of appropriate professional boundaries between pupils and school personnel and volunteers.
   (C) Building awareness and understanding of appropriate pupil-to-pupil interactions and relationships.
   (D) Building awareness and understanding of the detection and indicators of inappropriate behaviors in adults and pupils, and strategies to reduce risk and establish healthy boundaries.
   (E) Options to report child abuse and assault, and inappropriate interactions and relationships, and to safely seek assistance.
   
   
2. On or before July 1, 2026, develop guidance on the appropriate means of instructing pupils regarding the prevention of abuse, including sexual abuse and assault, of pupils, consistent with all of the following:
   
   (A) The instruction shall be age appropriate and differentiated by grade and instructional setting.
   (B) The instruction shall include the prevention of abuse, including sexual abuse and assault, of children at home, in the community, on school grounds, by school personnel, other pupils, and school volunteers, or in school-sponsored programs.
   (C) The instruction shall be delivered by certificated personnel who do not otherwise have regular contact with the pupils receiving the instruction and who have received training described in subdivision (h).

(d) School districts, county offices of education, charter schools, state special schools and diagnostic centers operated by the department, and private schools may provide annual instruction, using the resources, information, and guidance developed and disseminated by the Superintendent pursuant to subdivision (c), to all enrolled pupils.

(e) A parent or guardian of a pupil shall have the right to excuse their child from all or part of abuse, including sexual abuse, and human trafficking prevention education, and assessments related to that education, and from the instruction described in subdivision (d), consistent with Section 51938.

(f) The Superintendent may make available on the department’s internet website information about the education described in this section, resources on abuse, including sexual abuse and assault, and human trafficking prevention for professional learning purposes, and relevant materials for parents, guardians, and other caretakers of pupils.

(g) A school district is encouraged to collaborate with its county’s child welfare probation, mental health, public health, and sheriff’s departments, juvenile court, and office of education on intervention programs for pupils and other minors.

(h) As part of satisfying the requirements of Section 51934 that education be provided by instructors trained in the appropriate courses, as defined in Section 51931, continuation training shall be available and conducted periodically to enable school district personnel to learn about new developments in the understanding of abuse, including sexual abuse and assault, and human trafficking, and to receive instruction on current prevention efforts and methods. A school district is encouraged to include training on early identification of abuse, including sexual abuse, and human trafficking of pupils and other minors.

Resources and Information

(A) Building Awareness and Understanding of Appropriate Boundaries Regarding Adult-to-Pupil Interactions and Relationships

California Standards for the Teaching Profession
California Teaching Performance Expectations

(B) Building Awareness and Understanding of Appropriate Professional Boundaries Between Pupils and School Personnel and Volunteers

Prevention Tools
Mandated Reporter Training
Child Abuse Mandated Reporter Training
A Summary of Mandated Reporter Responsibilities in California (PDF)

(C) Building Awareness and Understanding of Appropriate Pupil-to-Pupil Interactions and Relationships

CDE Safe Schools
Love is Respect
The Kids Mental Health Foundation
Teen Dating Abuse Prevention

(D) Building Awareness and Understanding of the Detection and Indicators of Inappropriate Behaviors in Adults and Pupils, and Strategies to Reduce Risk and Establish Healthy Boundaries

Car Conversations: A Guide for Parents and Caregivers
Project Protect Our Children
VetoViolence
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network
Child Abuse Identification & Reporting Guidelines

(E) Options to Report Child Abuse and Assault, and Inappropriate Interactions and Relationships, and to Safely Seek Assistance

Report Suspected Child Abuse or Neglect
Child Abuse Identification & Reporting Guidelines
Child Abuse Prevention Training and Resources
Child Welfare Protection
One Page Reporting Tip Sheet (PDF)
Mandated Reporter Training

Instructional Guidance

(A) The Instruction Shall be Age Appropriate and Differentiated by Grade and Instructional Setting

California Health Education Content Standards
Health Education Framework
Health Education Framework: TK - 3 (PDF)
Health Education Framework: 4 - 6 (PDF)
Health Education Framework: 7 - 8 (PDF)
Health Education Framework: 9 - 12 (PDF)

(B) The Instruction Shall Include the Prevention of Abuse, Including Sexual Abuse and Assault, of Children at Home, in the Community, on School Grounds, by School Personnel, Other Pupils, and School Volunteers, or in School-Sponsored Programs

The California Healthy Youth Act (EC 51930 – 51939) requires instruction for grades 7 through 12, and it must occur at least once in middle school and once in high school.  Instruction on sexual abuse and assault is codified in EC Section 51934(a)(10). For information on the California Healthy Youth Act, please visit the CDE's Comprehensive Sexual Health & HIV/AIDS Instruction web page. More information about prevention of abuse, sexual abuse and assault may be found on the CDE's Health Education Framework web page.

Other Resources:
Project Protect Our Children
Consent for Kids
8 Ways to Teach Kids about Consent and Healthy Boundaries

(C) The Instruction Shall be Delivered by Certificated Personnel Who Do Not Otherwise Have Regular Contact with the Pupils Receiving the Instruction and Who Have Received Training Described in Subdivision (h)

Local educational agencies have the flexibility to choose the certificated staff member providing instruction.

Free training that meets the requirements in subdivision (h): Sexual Health Educator Training Program

Other Resources:
Children & Sexual Violence: Warning Signs & Prevention

(e) A Parent or Guardian of a Pupil Shall Have the Right to Excuse Their Child From All or Part of Abuse, Including Sexual Abuse, and Human Trafficking Prevention Education, and Assessments Related to That Education, and From the Instruction Described in Subdivision (d), Consistent with EC Section 51938

Parent/Guardian Notification

Prior to providing instruction in comprehensive sexual health education or HIV prevention education, EC 51938 requires school districts to notify parents of the instruction and to make materials available for parents to review. School districts may notify parents/guardians at the beginning of the school year or at least 14 days prior to instruction. Districts shall allow parents to withdraw their child from class upon receiving a signed, written request, using a passive consent or "opt-out" policy for required comprehensive sexual health education and HIV prevention instruction. Districts shall not adopt an active consent or "opt-in" policy for parental consent for required comprehensive sexual health education and HIV prevention instruction.

For information on the California Healthy Youth Act, Notice and Parental Excuse, EC  51938, please visit the California Legislative Information web page .

Schools may administer anonymous, voluntary, and confidential research and evaluation assessments relating to students’ health behaviors and risks, including tests, questionnaires, and surveys to any pupil in grades 7 to 12. Parents/guardians shall be given prior notice of these assessments, given the opportunity to review the assessment instrument, informed of their right to excuse their child, and informed that to excuse their child, they must state their request in writing to the school district. In grades 7 to 12, schools may use either a passive consent ("opt-out" policy) for parental consent for assessments. In earlier grades, schools shall use an active consent or ("opt-in" policy) for parental consent for assessments, per EC 51513 .

Sample Notification Letter

The sample parent/guardian notification letter (DOCX) is available here.